(Newser)
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The Narciso Rodriguez sheath Michelle Obama chose for election night has set the fashion world abuzz. The black-and-red dress—a less revealing adaptation of a frock from the American designer’s spring 2009 runway collection—was "a breath of chic air," LA Times fashion critic Booth Moore writes. But she's in the minority, says Ruth La Ferla of the New York Times.

The "widely held view that Mrs. Obama had exhibited a rare lapse in taste" points up the first lady-elect's role as a fashion icon, La Ferla notes. Her "tastes run from J. Crew to adventurous American labels." Obama, whose staff says she doesn’t use a personal stylist, “is not sitting around going through fashion look books and having confabs,” Vogue fashion honcho Andre Leon Talley tells the Times. “She is just going through her closet and picking out what’s right for her.”

I get it, they were going for the red & black color theme for the family, but despite its cost and designer, that dress Michelle wore was ugly.

piodalcin

Nov 7, 2008 11:52 PM CST

a dress like that was really inappropriate for such an historical events. A light blue tailleur(given the color of the democratic party ) would have fit just greatly a tall lady as she is. the two girls need also a re-styling. Please hire a "look manager" . Oh by the way, I'm available.

jaguarj

Nov 7, 2008 2:50 AM CST

I imagine a personal stylist will be in order for the 1st Lady. All of them have had wardrobe stylists or designers working with them.